Are your books in school libraries? When you write a novel, chapter or picture book, nonfiction book or short story collection perfect for school-aged children, one of the priorities for book distribution can be to get a book in school libraries.
Teachers, librarians and school directors are always looking for new titles to bring to their classrooms and school libraries, so self-publishing authors often seek pathways for getting their books in school libraries. It is a two-step process, authors interested in getting books in school libraries first need to develop methods for schools to learn about their books and then create a strategy for selling the book in schools, students or both.
Who Is the Buyer?
There are two pathways to selling your book to a school: the school itself, including school libraries, teachers or other education professionals, and the students or community.
- School Buyers: Some books, like historical fiction and nonfiction, scientific books, and novels that directly speak to young readers are always on the radar of school libraries seeking fresh, new titles to add to their school libraries or teacher classrooms.
- Student Buyers: Another way to bring your book to schools is by creating opportunities for students and the community to purchase your book during a school event
How to Create Interest in Your Book from School Libraries
A book written by a famous author is often hotly anticipated, but new or lesser-known authors need to get the word out about their upcoming works. To get your book in school libraries, you will need to craft a plan that will increase knowledge about your book, your writing style, and you as an author to build excitement in school libraries, students and the community.
1. Author Website
An easy way to create interest in your book is by putting together an author website. This site is the ideal springboard for you as a writer and should be structured so that you include any future books on the site, making the small investment in your author’s brand worthwhile.
- Try to use your pen name as the web address so your site will be easy to find.
- Include a bio that showcases your personality so readers and potential school buyers can get to know you as an author.
- Be sure to include any content that will add to your credibility as an author or parts of your own story that contribute to the books you write.
- Create a section about each book you write, including a picture of the book cover, ISBN and any reviews or literary commentary about your book.
- Consider creating a page on your site dedicated to the craft of writing. Readers and those in education especially enjoy learning about how you come up with the topics for your book, conduct research, and hone your writing style.
2. Sell Sheets
Creating a physical and digital page that succinctly provides potential readers and teachers with information about your book is the next step to getting your book in school libraries. Called a sell sheet, this flyer should include:
- Complete title including any subtitles
- Author name
- ISBN
- Brief book summary
- Overview of how the book can support the classroom and learning
- Intended audience (age group or grades)
Be sure to make your sell sheet visually appealing with bright colors, clear organization and easy-to-read fonts. Including a thumbnail of the book cover is also key so those purchasing books can quickly match the title with the book, making buying your book a more seamless process.
3. School Contact
The next step in getting your book in school libraries is contacting the school directly. The quickest way to do this is to pick up the phone and call the front office. While sometimes getting past this gatekeeper can be challenging, asking to speak with the librarian or a specific teacher who organizes the curriculum can be a good strategy.
Be sure to ask who the best person to speak to about book approvals, as this can be the most direct connection to someone who has the power to select your book for use in school libraries. Prepare to offer a presentation about your book in person, virtually or simply to send your sell sheet along with a link to your author’s website to familiarize them with your work.
Another way to make school contact is through direct mail. Sending a packet with an introductory letter, your sell sheet and even a copy of your book can be an excellent pathway to getting your book in schools. While it may seem less costly to send a postcard or other brief informational sheet through the mail, this kind of communication can get lost in the shuffle with large amounts of mail arriving at schools daily.
A quick but less effective communication contact can be made through email. With the copious amount of electronic mail educational professionals receive every day, an email from an unknown sender may be missed or even sent to spam by strong email filters. Email is often reserved for follow-up communication, once the initial contact has been established and the receiver is expecting additional information electronically.
4. Author Events
Presenting your book content in person offers a significantly more personalized experience for potential readers or book purchasers to learn about your work. A presentation to library staff can be an excellent opportunity to discuss how your book can be used in the classroom or to complement the curriculum as well as demonstrate the appeal of the book across grade levels as a library selection.
This in-person event may give you a chance to plan for a student presentation, too. An author event designed specifically for students will provide a platform to introduce yourself as a writer and an expert in your field, perfect for everything from career days to special events highlighting local authors or experts. Be sure to create or request a pre-order flyer to send home before the event to build excitement about your event and inform parents ahead of time so you can anticipate the number of books to bring with you to the event.
Ordering Self-Published Books in School Libraries
Schools often utilize a purchase order system for buying books. For self-published writers, this means that once a school has decided to buy your books, they will usually send you a purchase order or PO with the title, quantity and price.
Once the PO has been received, authors will place an order with the printer for the quantity of books needed beyond what is already available on hand. Then, once the books arrive and are delivered to the school, the author will provide the school with an invoice to pay for the books which may often include 30-day terms.
This arrangement differs from other transactions because the author will need to pay the printer for the ordered books before receiving payment from the school which can arrive 30 days or more from the invoice date. Of course, when books are ordered directly from students, payment can be exchanged for a book, or authors can choose to take orders and deliver the books shortly after receiving them back from the printer.
Partnering with a Trusted Printer
Authors who want to have books in schools often choose to work with an experienced digital printer that can work with quick turnaround deadlines since author events can be set up quickly. In addition, a digital printer like Dazzle Printing allows authors to order exactly the number of book copies needed without huge minimum print runs that result in a big financial outlay for self-publishing authors.
If an author can demonstrate their book’s appeal to teachers, students and the classroom, getting their books in schools is possible with a thoughtful strategy, good communication and an excellent printer that will create a gorgeous book that will look great on the shelf for years to come.
